Wine blending system and wine blending method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquor blending system and a liquor blending method. The liquor blending system comprises: a PLC control module; a first valve, the PLC control module controls the opening of the first valve to control the first base liquor to flow at a first flow rate; a second valve, the PLC control module controls the opening of the second valve to control the second base liquor to flow at a second flow rate; a third valve, the PLC control module controls the opening of the third valve to control the third base liquor to flow at a third flow rate; the first, second and third flow rates will have different proportions due to the differences in the properties of the base liquors and the requirements of the blended liquor. The three streams of base liquor enter a mixer together to obtain thorough mixing. The mixed liquor is discharged from the mixer outlet to a mixing tank. A first liquor strength measuring instrument is installed at the mixer outlet to measure the first liquor strength of the mixed liquor; and a second liquor strength measuring instrument is arranged on the side wall of the mixing tank and in contact with the liquor in the mixing tank to measure the second liquor strength of the mixed liquor in the mixing tank. The second target liquor strength is the final product liquor strength quality control target liquor strength.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of alcoholic beverages, and more specifically, to a blending system and a blending method for alcoholic beverages. Background Technology

[0002] In most Chinese liquor production enterprises, air agitation technology is used when blending liquor.

[0003] Figure 1 This illustrates a wine blending process in the prior art. For example... Figure 1 As shown, firstly, three types of base liquor are introduced into the blending tank 109 through the inlet valve 107 from the first base liquor tank 101, the second base liquor tank 103, and the third base liquor tank 105. Then, air from the gas storage tank 113 is forced into the blending tank 109 by the oilless air compressor 111. The forced air is discharged from the exhaust port on the exhaust pipe 115 at the bottom of the blending tank 109, thus creating agitating air to stir the liquor inside the blending tank 109. Simultaneously, the vent valve 117 at the top of the blending tank 109 is opened, allowing the stirred gas to be directly discharged to the outside of the blending tank 109 through the vent valve 117.

[0004] In the aforementioned blending process, the gas produced after stirring is directly released into the atmosphere through the vent valve of the blending tank. This carries away alcohol and aromatic substances from the wine, resulting in the loss of its "essence." Furthermore, the alcohol concentration in the released gas may reach explosive levels, posing a potential safety hazard. In addition, due to these reasons, a secondary mixing of the wine in the blending tank is required, and this mixing process is manual, requiring workers to repeatedly climb up and down the blending tank. For large-scale wine production enterprises, the existing blending process results in significant economic losses annually. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a wine blending system and method to solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the wine blending process of the prior art.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wine blending system is provided, comprising: a blending module, including a valve control command generation module configured to generate and issue valve control commands, the valve control commands including data indicating the opening degree of a control valve; a PLC control module, communicatively connected to the blending module, configured to receive valve control commands from the blending module and perform corresponding valve opening control operations according to the valve control commands; a first valve, disposed in the flow path of a first base wine and communicatively connected to the PLC control module, the PLC control module controlling the opening degree of the first valve to cause the first base wine to flow at a first flow rate; and a second valve, disposed in the flow path of a second base wine and communicatively connected to the PLC control module, the PLC control module controlling the opening degree of the first valve to cause the first base wine to flow at a first flow rate; and a second valve, disposed in the flow path of a second base wine and communicatively connected to the PLC control module, the PLC control module controlling the opening degree of the first valve to cause the first base wine to flow at a first flow rate. The opening of the second valve allows the second base liquor to flow at a second flow rate; a third valve, located in the flow path of the third base liquor and communicating with the PLC control module, controls the opening of the third valve to allow the third base liquor to flow at a third flow rate; a mixer includes an inlet and an outlet, the inlet communicating with the flow paths of the first, second, and third base liquors, the mixer receiving the first base liquor pumped in at a first flow rate, the second base liquor pumped in at a second flow rate, and the third base liquor pumped in at a third flow rate at the inlet, the mixer being configured to mix the pumped first, second, and third base liquors to obtain a first mixed liquor, and discharging the first mixed liquor from the outlet; a mixing tank, communicating with the outlet of the mixer, is configured to discharge the first mixed liquor from the outlet of the mixer. The mixer receives the discharged first mixed wine and further mixes it to obtain a second mixed wine; a first alcohol content measuring instrument, located at the outlet of the mixer and communicatively connected to a PLC control module, is configured to measure the first alcohol content of the first mixed wine at the mixer outlet and send the data representing the first alcohol content to the PLC control module; and a second alcohol content measuring instrument, located on the side wall of the mixing tank, in contact with the wine inside the mixing tank and communicatively connected to the PLC control module, is configured to measure the second alcohol content of the second mixed wine inside the mixing tank and send the data representing the second alcohol content to the PLC control module. During the process of the mixer discharging the first mixed wine from the outlet into the mixing tank, the PLC control module... The module performs the following operations: a) receives data representing the first alcohol content from the first alcohol content measuring instrument; b) sends the data representing the first alcohol content to the blending module, wherein the blending module also includes a comparison module, which compares the first alcohol content with the set first target alcohol content to obtain a first result, and the valve control command generation module issues a corrected valve control command based on the first result; c) receives the corrected valve control command from the blending module, and controls the opening of the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve according to the corrected valve control command to control the flow rate of the first base liquor, the second base liquor, and the third base liquor into the mixer, respectively, so as to adjust the first alcohol content so that the first alcohol content reaches the first target alcohol content; d) receives data representing the second alcohol content from the second alcohol content measuring instrument.e sends the data representing the second alcohol content to the blending module, which also includes an adjustment module. The comparison module compares the second alcohol content with the second target alcohol content to obtain a second result, and the adjustment module adjusts the first target alcohol content based on the second result. Steps a to e are repeated until the second alcohol content reaches the second target alcohol content.

[0007] By using the above methods, the wine is thoroughly mixed in the mixer and mixing tank, which not only ensures the precision of the final wine and produces high-quality wine, but also avoids the loss of the "essence" of the wine, such as alcohol and aromatic substances, reducing the production costs of wine companies. At the same time, it also eliminates the potential explosion hazard caused by alcohol accumulation.

[0008] In the wine blending system according to an embodiment of the present invention, receiving the discharged first mixed wine from the outlet of the mixer and further mixing the first mixed wine to obtain a second mixed wine includes: inputting the first mixed wine discharged from the outlet of the mixer into the mixing tank from the bottom of the mixing tank, and stirring the wine in the mixing tank by utilizing the flow inertia of the first mixed wine to obtain the second mixed wine.

[0009] By utilizing the inertia of the first mixed wine to stir the wine in the mixing tank, the wine can be further and more thoroughly mixed without the need for additional stirring power, thus avoiding the large-scale evaporation of the "essence" in the wine.

[0010] In the wine blending system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the mixer is a static mixer.

[0011] Using a static mixer, the wine is essentially fully mixed without external stirring as it passes through the mixer, thus avoiding the significant evaporation of the wine's "essence".

[0012] In the wine blending system according to an embodiment of the present invention, adjusting the first target alcohol content based on the second result includes: when the second alcohol content is greater than a predetermined value of the second target alcohol content, the adjustment module decreases the first target alcohol content; and when the second alcohol content is less than the predetermined value of the second target alcohol content, the adjustment module increases the first target alcohol content.

[0013] The above method provides a specific way to adjust the first target alcohol content.

[0014] In the wine blending system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the wine blending system further includes: a liquid level measuring unit, which is communicatively connected to a PLC control module. The liquid level measuring unit is configured to measure the liquid level of the wine in the mixing tank and send the liquid level to the PLC control module. During the period when the mixer discharges the first mixed wine from the outlet to the mixing tank, the PLC control module also performs the following operations: receiving the liquid level from the liquid level measuring unit; and sending the liquid level to the blending module. The adjustment module of the blending module adjusts the first target alcohol content according to the second result and the liquid level.

[0015] Adjusting the first target alcohol content based on the second result of comparing the alcohol content of the second mixed liquor in the mixing tank with the second target alcohol content can make the alcohol content of the second mixed liquor in the mixing tank reach the second target alcohol content more quickly and accurately.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for blending spirits is provided, comprising: controlling a first base spirit to be pumped into a mixer at a first flow rate from the inlet of a mixer; controlling a second base spirit to be pumped into a mixer at a second flow rate from the inlet of a mixer; controlling a third base spirit to be pumped into a mixer at a third flow rate from the inlet of a mixer; mixing the first base spirit, the second base spirit, and the third base spirit in the mixer to obtain a first blended spirit; discharging the first blended spirit from the outlet of the mixer into a mixing tank for further mixing to obtain a second blended spirit, wherein, during the discharge of the first blended spirit from the outlet of the mixer into the mixing tank, the method further includes... The steps include: a) measuring the first alcohol content of the first blended spirit discharged from the mixer outlet using a first alcohol content measuring instrument; b) comparing the first alcohol content with a first target alcohol content to obtain a first result; c) controlling the flow rates of the first base spirit, the second base spirit, and the third base spirit pumped into the mixer based on the first result to adjust the first alcohol content so that it reaches the first target alcohol content; d) measuring the second alcohol content of the second blended spirit using a second alcohol content measuring instrument; e) comparing the second alcohol content with a second target alcohol content to obtain a second result; f) adjusting the first target alcohol content based on the second result; and repeating steps a to f until the second alcohol content reaches the second target alcohol content.

[0017] By using the above methods, the wine is thoroughly mixed in the mixer and mixing tank, which not only ensures the precision of the final wine and produces high-quality wine, but also avoids the loss of the "essence" of the wine, such as alcohol and aromatic substances, reducing the production costs of wine companies. At the same time, it also eliminates the potential explosion hazard caused by alcohol accumulation.

[0018] In another embodiment of the wine blending method according to the present invention, discharging the first mixed wine from the outlet of the mixer into a mixing tank for further mixing to obtain the second mixed wine includes: inputting the first mixed wine discharged from the outlet of the mixer into the mixing tank from the bottom of the mixing tank, and using the flow inertia of the first mixed wine to stir the wine in the mixing tank to obtain the second mixed wine.

[0019] By utilizing the inertia of the first mixed wine to stir the wine in the mixing tank, the wine can be further and more thoroughly mixed without the need for additional external stirring, thus avoiding the large-scale evaporation of the "essence" in the wine.

[0020] In another embodiment of the wine blending method according to the present invention, adjusting the first target alcohol content based on the second result includes: decreasing the first target alcohol content when the second alcohol content is greater than a predetermined value of the second target alcohol content; and increasing the first target alcohol content when the second alcohol content is less than the predetermined value of the second target alcohol content.

[0021] The above method provides a specific way to adjust the first target alcohol content.

[0022] In a wine blending method according to another embodiment of the present invention, during the discharge of a first blended wine from the outlet of a mixer into a mixing tank, the method further includes: monitoring the mixing tank to obtain the level of a second blended wine; and adjusting a first target alcohol content in step (f) based on a second result and the obtained level of the second blended wine.

[0023] Adjusting the first target alcohol content based on the second result of comparing the alcohol content of the second mixed liquor in the mixing tank with the second target alcohol content can make the alcohol content of the second mixed liquor in the mixing tank reach the second target alcohol content more quickly and accurately.

[0024] In another embodiment of the wine blending method according to the present invention, the method further includes: real-time monitoring of the liquid levels of the first base wine, the second base wine, and the third base wine.

[0025] By monitoring the liquid levels of the first, second, and third base liquors in real time, it is possible to avoid a shortage of the first, second, and third base liquors. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and form part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 This illustrates the wine blending process in the prior art.

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a wine blending system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Figure 3 A flowchart of a wine blending method according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0030] The accompanying figure is labeled as follows:

[0031] 20: Wine blending system

[0032] 201: Module for Configuring

[0033] 203: PLC Control Module

[0034] 205: First Base Wine Tank

[0035] 207: Second Base Wine Tank

[0036] 209: Third Base Wine Tank

[0037] 211: First Valve

[0038] 213: Second valve

[0039] 215: Third valve

[0040] P1, P2, P3: Pumps

[0041] 217: Mixer

[0042] 219: Mixing box

[0043] 221 First Alcohol Content Measuring Instrument

[0044] 223: Second alcohol content measuring instrument

[0045] i: entrance

[0046] O: Export

[0047] V1: Wine inlet valve

[0048] V2: Wine dispensing valve

[0049] M: Liquid level measurement unit. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0051] This invention provides a wine blending system. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a wine blending system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown below. Figure 2 The wine blending system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, the wine blending system 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a blending module 201, a PLC control module 203, a first base wine tank 205, a second base wine tank 207, a third base wine tank 209, a first valve 211, a second valve 213, a third valve 215, a mixer 217, a mixing box 219, a first alcohol content measuring instrument 221, and a second alcohol content measuring instrument 223.

[0053] The blending module 201 is typically located in the system control center and may include an input module, a communication module, a comparison module, an adjustment module, and a valve control command generation module. Through the input module, users can input various parameters related to the wine blending process, such as the type of base wine, the alcohol content of the base wine, the proportion of various base wines, the valve opening degree, the base wine flow rate, and the target alcohol content. The input module can also receive various parameters, such as the wine blending recipe, sent by the Production Information Management System (MES), via the communication module. The communication module is configured to enable data and command communication between the modules within the blending module and between the blending module and external devices (e.g., a PLC control module). The comparison module compares the data received via the communication module with the target data to obtain a comparison result. The adjustment module adjusts the corresponding parameters based on the comparison result obtained by the comparison module. The valve control command generation module can generate and issue valve control commands based on the wine blending parameters input by the input module, the comparison result obtained by the comparison module, or the corresponding parameters adjusted by the adjustment module. The valve control commands may include data indicating the control valve opening degree.

[0054] The PLC control module 203 is communicatively connected to the mixing module 201. This communication connection can be wired or wireless; the present invention does not impose any specific limitations.

[0055] The PLC control module 203 can receive valve control commands from the blending module 203 and perform corresponding valve opening control operations based on the received valve control commands. Specifically, for example, after the blending module 203 receives the wine blending recipe sent from the MES, the valve control command generation module of the blending module 203 generates valve control commands according to the corresponding parameters indicated in the recipe and sends the valve control commands to the PLC control module 203, which then performs corresponding valve opening control operations based on the received valve control commands.

[0056] The first base liquor tank 205 can hold the first base liquor, for example, the first base liquor can be 65-degree baijiu.

[0057] The second base liquor tank 207 can hold a second base liquor, for example, a 45-degree baijiu.

[0058] The third base liquor tank 209 can hold a third base liquor, for example, a 50-degree baijiu.

[0059] The first valve 211 is located in the flow path of the first base liquor downstream of the first base liquor tank 205 and is connected to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 controls the opening degree of the first valve 211 according to the valve control command received from the blending module 201, so that the first base liquor flows out of the first base liquor tank 205 at a first flow rate.

[0060] The second valve 213 is located in the flow path of the second base liquor downstream of the second base liquor tank 207 and is connected to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 controls the opening of the second valve 213 according to the valve control command received from the blending module 201, so that the second base liquor flows out of the second base liquor tank 207 at a second flow rate.

[0061] The third valve 215 is installed in the flow path of the third base liquor downstream of the third base liquor tank 209 and is connected to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 controls the opening degree of the third valve 215 according to the valve control command received from the blending module 201, so that the third base liquor flows out of the third base liquor tank 209 at the third flow rate.

[0062] The first valve 211, the second valve 213, and the third valve 215 can be automatic control valves.

[0063] like Figure 2 As shown, pumps P1, P2 and P3 are respectively installed between the first base wine tank 205 to the third base wine tank 209 and the corresponding first valve 211 to the third valve 215. They are used to pump the first base wine to the third base wine from the corresponding first base wine tank 205 to the third base wine tank 209. The first valve 211 to the third valve 215 control the flow rate of the pumped first base wine to the third base wine.

[0064] Mixer 217 includes an inlet i and an outlet O. Inlet i is in communication with the flow paths of the first base spirit, the second base spirit, and the third base spirit. Mixer 217 receives the first base spirit pumped in at a first flow rate, the second base spirit pumped in at a second flow rate, and the third base spirit pumped in at a third flow rate at its inlet i. The first base spirit, the second base spirit, and the third base spirit enter mixer 217 and are mixed to obtain a first mixed spirit. For example, the mixing ratio of the first base spirit, the second base spirit, and the third base spirit can be 5:3:2.

[0065] Here, mixer 217 can be a static mixer. A static mixer is a highly efficient mixing device without moving parts. It uses a mixing unit fixed inside a pipe to change the flow state of the fluid inside the pipe, so as to achieve good dispersion and thorough mixing between different fluids. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and mixer 217 can be other mixing devices for mixing wine.

[0066] The first mixed wine after being mixed by mixer 217 can be discharged from outlet O of mixer 217.

[0067] like Figure 2As shown, the mixing tank 219 can be connected to the outlet O of the mixer 217 via the inlet valve V1. The first mixed wine discharged from the outlet O of the mixer 217 enters the mixing tank 219 from the bottom via the inlet valve V1, and the wine in the mixing tank 219 is stirred by the flow inertia of the first mixed wine to obtain the second mixed wine.

[0068] The first alcohol content measuring instrument 221 is installed at the outlet O of the mixer 217 and is communicatively connected to the PLC control module 203. The first alcohol content measuring instrument 221 can measure the alcohol content (hereinafter referred to as "first alcohol content") of the first mixed wine at the outlet O of the mixer 217 and send the data representing the measured first alcohol content to the PLC control module 203.

[0069] The second alcohol content measuring instrument 223 is installed on the side wall of the mixing tank 219, in contact with the alcohol inside the mixing tank 219, and is communicatively connected to the PLC control module. Figure 2 In the diagram, two circles are used to schematically represent the measurement of alcohol content using an alcohol content measuring instrument. For simplicity, without affecting the understanding, these two circles are respectively represented by the numbers 221 and 223, indicating the first and second alcohol content measuring instruments.

[0070] The second alcohol content measuring instrument 223 can measure the alcohol content (hereinafter referred to as "second alcohol content") of the second mixed wine in the mixing tank 219 and send the measured second alcohol content to the PLC control module 203.

[0071] The measurement accuracy of the second alcohol content measuring instrument 223 can be higher than that of the first alcohol content measuring instrument 221.

[0072] The wine blending system 20 according to the present invention may further include multiple liquid level measuring units M communicatively connected to the PLC control module 203, used to monitor the liquid levels of the wine in the first base wine tank 205, the second base wine tank 207, the third base wine tank 209, and the mixing tank 219, and send the monitoring results to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 sends the monitoring results obtained therefrom to the blending module 201 for data analysis to generate new valve control commands.

[0073] During the discharge of the first mixed liquor from outlet O to mixing tank 219 by mixer 217, PLC control module 203 receives data indicating the first alcohol content of the first mixed liquor from first alcohol content measuring instrument 221 and sends the received data indicating the first alcohol content to blending module 201. Blending module 201 receives the data indicating the first alcohol content from PLC control module 203 via communication module. Comparison module compares the received first alcohol content with a set first target alcohol content to obtain a first result. Valve control command generation module generates and issues a corrected valve control command based on the first result. Here, the first target alcohol content can be preset through the input module of blending module 201, for example, 53 degrees, but the invention is not limited to this and can be set according to the user's desired alcohol content.

[0074] Specifically, for example, when the difference between the first alcohol content and the first target alcohol content is greater than 0.5 degrees, when the first alcohol content is greater than the first target alcohol content, the valve control command generation module generates valve control commands based on the comparison result to decrease the opening of the first valve controlling the flow rate of the first base liquor with a higher alcohol content and / or increase the opening of the third valve controlling the flow rate of the third base liquor with a lower alcohol content. For example, the amount of decrease in the opening of the first valve or the amount of increase in the opening of the third valve can be determined based on the difference between the first alcohol content and the first target alcohol content. When the first alcohol content is less than the first target alcohol content, for example, the valve control command generation module generates valve control commands based on the comparison result to increase the opening of the first valve controlling the flow rate of the first base liquor with a higher alcohol content and / or decrease the opening of the third valve controlling the flow rate of the third base liquor with a lower alcohol content. For example, the amount of increase in the opening of the first valve or the amount of decrease in the opening of the third valve can be determined based on the difference between the first alcohol content and the first target alcohol content. The present invention is not limited thereto; the valve control command generation module can also generate valve control commands that simultaneously adjust the openings of the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve.

[0075] The PLC control module 203 receives the modified valve control command generated in the above manner from the blending module 201, and controls the opening of the first valve 211, the second valve 213, and the third valve 215 according to the received modified valve control command to control the flow rate of the first base liquor, the second base liquor, and the third liquor into the mixer 217, thereby adjusting the first alcohol content of the first mixed liquor flowing out of the mixer 217 outlet O, so that the first alcohol content reaches the first target alcohol content.

[0076] During the discharge of the first mixed liquor from outlet O to mixing tank 219 by mixer 217, PLC control module 203 also receives data indicating the second alcohol content of the measured second mixed liquor from second alcohol content measuring instrument 223, and sends the received data indicating the second alcohol content to blending module 201. Blending module 201 receives the data indicating the second alcohol content from PLC control module 203 via communication module, comparison module compares the received second alcohol content with a set second target alcohol content to obtain a second result, and adjustment module adjusts the first target alcohol content according to the second result. Here, the second target alcohol content can be preset through the input module of blending module 201, for example, 53 degrees, but the invention is not limited to this and can be set according to the user's desired alcohol content.

[0077] Specifically, for example, when the difference between the second alcohol content and the second target alcohol content is greater than 0.5 degrees, the adjustment module decreases the first target alcohol content when the second alcohol content is greater than the second target alcohol content, and increases the first target alcohol content when the second alcohol content is less than the second target alcohol content. More specifically, the liquid level in the mixing tank 219 is measured by the liquid level measuring unit, and the data indicating the liquid level is sent to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module receives the data indicating the liquid level in the mixing tank and sends the data to the blending module 201. The adjustment module of the blending module 201 determines the adjustment amount of the first target alcohol content based on the liquid level in the mixing tank. For example, when the difference between the second alcohol content and the second target alcohol content is greater than 0.5 degrees, when the second alcohol content is less than the second target alcohol content, if the liquid level in the mixing tank is low, the increase in the first target alcohol content is set relatively small; if the liquid level in the mixing tank is high, the increase in the first target alcohol content is set relatively large to appropriately compensate for the alcohol content in the mixing tank. That is, the adjustment module can more precisely adjust the first target alcohol content based on the second result of comparing the second alcohol content with the second target alcohol content and the liquid level of the alcohol in the mixing tank.

[0078] The first alcohol content of the first blended wine and the second alcohol content of the second blended wine are monitored in real time by the first alcohol content meter and the second alcohol content meter. The opening of the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are repeatedly adjusted in the above manner, and the first target alcohol content is adjusted until the second alcohol content of the second blended wine reaches the second target alcohol content, thereby obtaining a blended wine with the user's desired alcohol content.

[0079] The wine blending system 20 according to the present invention may further include a plurality of flow meters (in) Figure 2(Not shown in the image), for example, three flow meters are used to detect the first flow rate on the first base liquor flow path, the second flow rate on the second base liquor flow path, and the third flow rate on the third base liquor flow path, respectively, and send the detected first, second, and third flow rates to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 sends the obtained flow results to the blending module 201 for data analysis. By monitoring the flow rate on each base liquor flow path, the opening degree of the corresponding valve can be adjusted appropriately based on each flow rate.

[0080] The wine blending system 20 according to the present invention can utilize multiple liquid level measuring units (in) Figure 2 (Not shown) The liquid levels of the liquor in the first base liquor tank 205, the second base liquor tank 207, and the third base liquor tank 209 are monitored, and the monitoring results are sent to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 sends the monitoring results to the blending module 201 for data analysis, thereby effectively avoiding insufficient liquor output from each base liquor tank.

[0081] The final blended liquor with the user's desired alcohol content can enter the liquor packaging stage through the dispensing valve V2 at the bottom of the mixing tank 219.

[0082] The wine blending system of the present invention ensures that the wine is fully mixed in the mixer and mixing chamber, which not only guarantees the precision of the final wine and obtains high-quality wine, but also avoids the loss of the "essence" of the wine, such as alcohol and aromatic substances, reducing the production cost of wine companies, and eliminating the potential explosion hazard caused by alcohol accumulation.

[0083] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for blending wine is also provided. Figure 3 A flowchart of a wine blending method according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. For ease of understanding, the following is combined with... Figure 2 and 3 A wine blending method according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Figure 2 This is done within the context of the wine blending system shown.

[0084] A wine blending method 30 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes: step S301, controlling a first base wine to be pumped into a mixer at a first flow rate from the inlet of a mixer; S303, controlling a second base wine to be pumped into a mixer at a second flow rate from the inlet of a mixer; S305, controlling a third base wine to be pumped into a mixer at a third flow rate from the inlet of a mixer; S307, mixing the first base wine, the second base wine, and the third base wine in a mixer to obtain a first blended wine; S309, discharging the first blended wine from the outlet of the mixer into a mixing tank for further mixing to obtain a second blended wine, wherein, when discharging the first blended wine from the outlet of the mixer into a mixing tank... During the process, the method further includes: a) measuring the first alcohol content of the first blended spirit discharged from the outlet of the mixer using a first alcohol content measuring instrument; b) comparing the first alcohol content with a first target alcohol content to obtain a first result; c) controlling the flow rates of the first base spirit, the second base spirit, and the third base spirit pumped into the mixer according to the first result to adjust the first alcohol content so that the first alcohol content reaches the first target alcohol content; d) measuring the second alcohol content of the second blended spirit using a second alcohol content measuring instrument; e) comparing the second alcohol content with a second target alcohol content to obtain a second result; f) adjusting the first target alcohol content according to the second result; repeating steps a to f until the second alcohol content reaches the second target alcohol content.

[0085] Specifically, the valve control command generation module of the blending module 201 generates valve control commands, including data representing the control valve opening degree, based on the wine blending parameters input from the input module, and sends the valve control commands to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 controls the opening degree of the first valve 211, the second valve 213, and the third valve 215 according to the received valve control commands, so that the first base wine is pumped out from the first base wine tank 205 by pump P1 at a first flow rate, the second base wine is pumped out from the second base wine tank 207 by pump P2 at a second flow rate, and the third base wine is pumped out from the third base wine tank 209 by pump P3 at a third flow rate.

[0086] Mixer 217 receives at its inlet i a first base spirit pumped from a first base spirit tank 205 at a first flow rate, a second base spirit pumped from a second base spirit tank 207 at a second flow rate, and a third base spirit pumped from a third base spirit tank 209 at a third flow rate. The first, second, and third base spirits are mixed in mixer 217 to obtain a first blended spirit.

[0087] The first mixed wine after being mixed by mixer 217 can be discharged from outlet O of mixer 217. The first mixed wine discharged from outlet O of mixer 217 enters mixing tank 219 from the bottom of mixing tank 219 through inlet valve V1. The wine in mixing tank 219 is stirred by the flow inertia of the first mixed wine to obtain the second mixed wine.

[0088] The first alcohol content measuring instrument 223 measures the first alcohol content of the first mixed liquor at the outlet O of the mixer 217 and sends the data indicating the measured first alcohol content to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 then sends the received data indicating the first alcohol content to the blending module 201.

[0089] The blending module 201 receives data representing the first alcohol content from the PLC control module 203 via the communication module. The comparison module compares the received first alcohol content with the set first target alcohol content to obtain a first result. The valve control command generation module generates and issues a corrected valve control command based on the first result.

[0090] Specifically, for example, when the difference between the first alcohol content and the first target alcohol content is greater than 0.5 degrees, when the first alcohol content is greater than the first target alcohol content, the valve control command generation module generates valve control commands based on the comparison result to decrease the opening of the first valve controlling the flow rate of the first base liquor with a higher alcohol content and / or increase the opening of the third valve controlling the flow rate of the third base liquor with a lower alcohol content. For example, the amount of decrease in the opening of the first valve or the amount of increase in the opening of the third valve is determined based on the difference between the first alcohol content and the first target alcohol content. When the first alcohol content is less than the first target alcohol content, for example, the valve control command generation module generates valve control commands based on the comparison result to increase the opening of the first valve controlling the flow rate of the first base liquor with a higher alcohol content and / or decrease the opening of the third valve controlling the flow rate of the third base liquor with a lower alcohol content. For example, the amount of increase in the opening of the first valve or the amount of decrease in the opening of the third valve is determined based on the difference between the first alcohol content and the first target alcohol content. The present invention is not limited thereto; the valve control command generation module can also generate valve control commands that simultaneously adjust the openings of the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve.

[0091] The PLC control module 203 receives the modified valve control command generated in the above manner from the blending module 201, and controls the opening of the first valve 211, the second valve 213, and the third valve 215 according to the received modified valve control command to control the flow rate of the first base liquor, the second base liquor, and the third liquor into the mixer 217, thereby adjusting the first alcohol content of the first mixed liquor flowing out of the mixer 217 outlet O, so that the first alcohol content reaches the first target alcohol content.

[0092] The second alcohol content measuring instrument 223 measures the second alcohol content of the second blended liquor in the mixing tank 219 and sends the measured data representing the second alcohol content to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 then sends the received data representing the second alcohol content to the blending module 201.

[0093] The blending module 201 receives data representing the second alcohol content from the PLC control module 203 via the communication module. The comparison module compares the received second alcohol content with the set second target alcohol content to obtain a second result. The adjustment module adjusts the first target alcohol content according to the second result.

[0094] Specifically, for example, when the difference between the second alcohol content and the second target alcohol content is greater than 0.5 degrees, the adjustment module decreases the first target alcohol content when the second alcohol content is greater than the second target alcohol content, and increases the first target alcohol content when the second alcohol content is less than the second target alcohol content. More specifically, the liquid level in the mixing tank 219 is measured by a liquid level measuring unit, and the data indicating the liquid level is sent to the PLC control module. The PLC control module receives the data indicating the liquid level in the mixing tank and sends the data to the blending module 201. The adjustment module of the blending module 201 determines the adjustment amount of the first target alcohol content based on the liquid level in the mixing tank. For example, when the difference between the second alcohol content and the second target alcohol content is greater than 0.5 degrees, when the second alcohol content is less than the second target alcohol content, if the liquid level in the mixing tank is low, the increase in the first target alcohol content is set relatively small; if the liquid level in the mixing tank is high, the increase in the first target alcohol content is set relatively large to appropriately compensate for the alcohol content in the mixing tank. That is, the adjustment module can more precisely adjust the first target alcohol content based on the second result of comparing the second alcohol content with the second target alcohol content and the liquid level of the alcohol in the mixing tank.

[0095] The first alcohol content of the first blended wine and the second alcohol content of the second blended wine are monitored in real time by the first alcohol content meter and the second alcohol content meter. The opening of the first valve, the second valve and the third valve are repeatedly adjusted in the above manner, and the first target alcohol content is adjusted until the second alcohol content of the second blended wine reaches the second target alcohol content, thereby obtaining a blended wine with the user's desired alcohol content.

[0096] The final blended liquor with the user's desired alcohol content can enter the liquor packaging stage through the dispensing valve V2 at the bottom of the mixing tank 219.

[0097] The wine blending method according to the present invention can also utilize multiple liquid level measuring units to monitor the liquid levels of the wine in the first base wine tank 205, the second base wine tank 207, and the third base wine tank 209, and send the monitoring results to the PLC control module 203. The PLC control module 203 sends the monitoring results obtained therefrom to the blending module 201 for data analysis, thereby effectively avoiding insufficient wine output from each base wine tank.

[0098] According to the wine blending method of the present invention, the wine is fully mixed in the mixer and mixing tank, which not only ensures the precision of the final wine and obtains high-quality wine, but also avoids the loss of the "essence" of the wine such as alcohol and aromatic substances, reduces the production cost of wine enterprises, and eliminates the potential explosion hazard caused by alcohol accumulation.

[0099] In the above embodiments of this disclosure, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0100] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wine blending system (20), characterized by, Comprise: a blending module (201) comprising a valve control instruction generation module configured to generate and issue valve control instructions comprising data representing control valve opening degree; a PLC control module (203) in communication connection with the blending module, configured to receive the valve control instructions from the blending module and perform corresponding valve opening degree control operation according to the valve control instructions; a first valve (211) disposed on the flow path of the first base liquor and in communication connection with the PLC control module (203), the PLC control module (203) controls the opening degree of the first valve (211) so that the first base liquor flows at a first flow rate; a second valve (213) disposed on the flow path of the second base liquor and in communication connection with the PLC control module (203), the PLC control module (203) controls the opening degree of the second valve (213) so that the second base liquor flows at a second flow rate; a third valve (215) disposed on the flow path of the third base liquor and in communication connection with the PLC control module (203), the PLC control module (203) controls the opening degree of the third valve (215) so that the third base liquor flows at a third flow rate; a mixer (217) comprising an inlet (i) and an outlet (O), the inlet (i) being in communication with the flow paths of the first, second and third base liquors, the mixer (217) receiving the first, second and third base liquors pumped in at the first, second and third flow rates at the inlet (i), the mixer (217) being configured to mix the first, second and third base liquors pumped in to obtain a first mixed liquor and discharge the first mixed liquor from the outlet (O); a mixing tank (219) in communication with the outlet (O) of the mixer (217), the mixing tank (219) being configured to receive the first mixed liquor discharged from the outlet (O) of the mixer and further mix the first mixed liquor to obtain a second mixed liquor; a first liquor degree measuring instrument (221) disposed at the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) and in communication connection with the PLC control module (203), the first liquor degree measuring instrument (221) being configured to measure the first liquor degree of the first mixed liquor at the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) and send data representing the first liquor degree to the PLC control module (203); and a second liquor degree measuring instrument (223) disposed on the side wall of the mixing tank (219) and in contact with the liquor in the mixing tank (219) and in communication connection with the PLC control module (203), the second liquor degree measuring instrument (223) being configured to measure the second liquor degree of the second mixed liquor in the mixing tank (219) and send data representing the second liquor degree to the PLC control module (203), wherein, during the discharging of the first mixed liquor from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into the mixing tank (219), the PLC control module (203) further performs the following operations: a receiving data indicative of the first liquor degree from the first liquor degree measuring instrument (221); b sending data indicative of the first liquor degree to the blending module (201), wherein the blending module (201) further comprises a comparing module configured to compare the first liquor degree with a first target liquor degree to obtain a first result, and a valve control instruction generating module configured to generate a corrected valve control instruction according to the first result; c receiving the corrected valve control instruction from the blending module (201) and controlling the opening degrees of the first valve (211), the second valve (213) and the third valve (215) according to the corrected valve control instruction to control the flow rates of the first base liquor, the second base liquor and the third base liquor respectively pumped into the mixer (217) to adjust the first liquor degree so that the first liquor degree reaches the first target liquor degree; d receiving data indicative of the second liquor degree from the second liquor degree measuring instrument (223); e sending data indicative of the second liquor degree to the blending module (201), wherein the blending module (201) further comprises an adjusting module configured to compare the second liquor degree with a second target liquor degree to obtain a second result and adjust the first target liquor degree according to the second result; repeating steps a to e until the second liquor degree reaches the second target liquor degree.

2. The wine blending system (20) of claim 1, wherein receiving the discharged first mixed liquor from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) and further blending the first mixed liquor to obtain a second mixed liquor comprises: inputting the first mixed liquor discharged from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into the mixing tank (219) from the bottom of the mixing tank (219) and stirring the liquor in the mixing tank (219) by using the flow inertia of the first mixed liquor to obtain the second mixed liquor.

3. The wine blending system (20) of claim 1, wherein, the mixer (217) is a static mixer.

4. The wine blending system (20) of claim 1, wherein, adjusting the first target liquor degree according to the second result comprises: decreasing the first target liquor degree when the second liquor degree is greater than the second target liquor degree by a predetermined value; and increasing the first target liquor degree when the second liquor degree is less than the second target liquor degree by the predetermined value.

5. The wine blending system (20) of claim 1, wherein, the liquor blending system (20) further comprises: a liquid level measuring unit (M) in communication with the PLC control module (203), the liquid level measuring unit (M) being configured to measure the liquid level of the liquor in the mixing tank (219) and send data indicative of the liquid level to the PLC control module (203), wherein, during the discharging of the first mixed liquor from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into the mixing tank (219), the PLC control module (203) further performs the following operations: receiving data indicative of the liquid level from the liquid level measuring unit (M); and sending data indicative of the liquid level to the blending module (201), wherein the adjusting module of the blending module (201) adjusts the first target alcohol degree according to the second result and the liquid level.

6. A method (30) of wine blending, characterized by, comprising: controlling a first base liquor to be pumped into a mixer (217) from an inlet (i) of the mixer at a first flow rate (S301); controlling a second base liquor to be pumped into the mixer (217) from the inlet (i) of the mixer at a second flow rate (S303); controlling a third base liquor to be pumped into the mixer (217) from the inlet (i) of the mixer at a third flow rate (S305); mixing the first, second and third base liquors in the mixer (217) to obtain a first mixed liquor (S307); discharging the first mixed liquor from an outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into a mixing tank (219) for further mixing to obtain a second mixed liquor (S309), wherein during the discharging of the first mixed liquor from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into the mixing tank (219), the method further comprises: a measuring a first alcohol degree of the first mixed liquor discharged from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) using a first alcohol degree measuring instrument (221); b comparing the first alcohol degree with a first target alcohol degree to obtain a first result; c controlling the flow rates of the first, second and third base liquors pumped into the mixer (217) according to the first result to adjust the first alcohol degree so that the first alcohol degree reaches the first target alcohol degree; d measuring a second alcohol degree of the second mixed liquor using a second alcohol degree measuring instrument; e comparing the second alcohol degree with a second target alcohol degree to obtain a second result; f adjusting the first target alcohol degree according to the second result; repeating steps a to f until the second alcohol degree reaches the second target alcohol degree.

7. The liquor blending method (30) according to claim 6, wherein discharging the first mixed liquor from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into the mixing tank (219) for further mixing to obtain the second mixed liquor comprises: inputting the first mixed liquor discharged from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) from a bottom of the mixing tank (219) into the mixing tank (219) to stir the liquor in the mixing tank (219) using the flow inertia of the first mixed liquor to obtain the second mixed liquor.

8. The liquor blending method (30) according to claim 6, wherein adjusting the first target alcohol degree according to the second result comprises: decreasing the first target alcohol degree when the second alcohol degree is greater than the second target alcohol degree by a predetermined value; and increasing the first target alcohol degree when the second alcohol degree is less than the second target alcohol degree by the predetermined value.

9. The wine blending method (30) of claim 6, wherein, during the discharging of the first mixed liquor from the outlet (O) of the mixer (217) into the mixing tank (219), the method further comprises: monitoring the mixing tank (219) to obtain a liquid level of the second mixed liquor; and adjusting the first target liquor degree according to the second result and the obtained liquid level of the second mixed liquor in step (f).

10. The wine blending method (30) of claim 6, wherein, The method further comprises: monitoring the liquid levels of the first base liquor, the second base liquor and the third base liquor in real time.

Images